Windsor Pub Explorations
It's been a while since I last joined the throngs of tourists and made a visit to the regal town of Windsor.And it's fantastically topical at the moment, royal baby and all.
I did start out with a master-plan to stick to the pubs with royal connections in their names.
But being a complete amateur pub-blogger, I was quickly side-tracked by the lure of fine ales in the Corner House.
So apologies - what could have been a themed post (taking in the Queen Vic, Prince Arthur, Duchess of Cambridge) becomes just another random jaunt around the pubs.The first pub is very royally themed. I can remember this appearing on the news a year ago, thanks to the cunning marketing of a timely name change...
Prince Harry (8 Market Street, Windsor, SL4 1PB)
This is located in a building which dates back to 1518, first becoming a pub in 1689. Prior to Prince Harry being invented it was known as the Three Tuns.
On the week of the royal wedding in May 2018 they quickly unveiled the new signage (and a menu including a Megan Markle burger) just prior to the crowds lining the streets.
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| The Prince Harry, Windsor |
A sign on the door advertises local ales from Windsor & Eton Brewery, but disappointingly a 'just settling' label was hung over their 'Hurricane' pump clip. Leaving a choice of Fullers 'London Pride' or Ringwood 'Fortyniner'.
I don't really know what to make of this pub. By changing its name and sticking up a picture of Harry on the wall it's essentially a royal theme-pub, designed to bring in the tourists. I wonder if it works?
I don't really know what to make of this pub. By changing its name and sticking up a picture of Harry on the wall it's essentially a royal theme-pub, designed to bring in the tourists. I wonder if it works?
From a Royal family member who's very much trending here and now, we leap back a couple of hundred years for the next pubs namesake.
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| Queen Charlotte, Windsor
Tough to get a picture of without looming
over someone's outdoor table with camera, which rarely goes down well. |
Queen Charlotte had a tenure on the throne from 1761 until her death in 1818. Which I've obviously recounted from my general royal knowledge and not just looked up on Wikipedia a few minutes ago.
This pub was previously the Blarney Stone - a quick glance through whatpub suggests that Windsor has seen its fair share of pub name changes.
It's actually named after Queen Charlotte Street, which is listed as the shortest street in Britain (51 feet and 10 inches).
I received a friendly welcome and amongst a selection of cask ales along the bar, Windsor & Eton's 'Hurricane' had already settled here. I sat in the modern refurbished surrounds of the quiet pub, with other punters tucked away in a separate dining area or on the outdoor tables to the front. I enjoyed the beer, but perhaps the pub is a little too smart, bright and airy for my tastes.
I received a friendly welcome and amongst a selection of cask ales along the bar, Windsor & Eton's 'Hurricane' had already settled here. I sat in the modern refurbished surrounds of the quiet pub, with other punters tucked away in a separate dining area or on the outdoor tables to the front. I enjoyed the beer, but perhaps the pub is a little too smart, bright and airy for my tastes.
From the Queen Charlotte I headed back down past the castle walls along the spectacular Thames Street, with it's chaotically crowded pavements.
King and Castle (15/16 Thames Street, Windsor, SL4 1PL)
The King in this pub name is Edward VII whose bust is above the entryway to the adjacent passageway. It's a big Wetherspoon's outlet spread over three floors indoors, plus outdoor seating on a couple of levels too.
No surprises here - a reasonable selection of beers at the best prices of the day, a 'spoons carpet, subtitled news on the TV, and a wide-ranging clientele.
In the nice weather most customers had chosen the garden, so there was plenty of choice of tables and the chance to sit by the first floor window, watching Britain's tourism business boom outside.
No surprises here - a reasonable selection of beers at the best prices of the day, a 'spoons carpet, subtitled news on the TV, and a wide-ranging clientele.
In the nice weather most customers had chosen the garden, so there was plenty of choice of tables and the chance to sit by the first floor window, watching Britain's tourism business boom outside.
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| 'spoons! |
Yet another pub with a name change in recent years - in this case it used to be the Lime Bar & Grill.
What a brilliant place!
The bar has a line-up of 5 ciders on cask and 10 real ales from the likes of Big Smoke and Tiny Rebel. From a great selection it was tough to pick, but I opted for a Cloudwater 'Take it from the Top', which was a pretty excellent bitter & hoppy 5% IPA.
With so much choice on cask I didn't even turn my attention to any of the keg offerings, but I'll guess there was a good selection of these as well.
A great pub and probably where you'd find me on a regular basis if I was a Windsor resident.
What a brilliant place!
The bar has a line-up of 5 ciders on cask and 10 real ales from the likes of Big Smoke and Tiny Rebel. From a great selection it was tough to pick, but I opted for a Cloudwater 'Take it from the Top', which was a pretty excellent bitter & hoppy 5% IPA.
With so much choice on cask I didn't even turn my attention to any of the keg offerings, but I'll guess there was a good selection of these as well.
A great pub and probably where you'd find me on a regular basis if I was a Windsor resident.
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| Beer, Cider & Food - the Corner House, Windsor |
Carpenters Arms (4 Market Street, Windsor, SL4 1PB - web)
The Carpenters is a Nicholson's house, which means a decent beer range and some reliable food.
It has entrances on two streets and approaching through the back door I wandered down staircases and through a couple of rooms to reach the bar at the front.It's quite a cavernous place.
I haven't caught it very well in a picture, but they have a very odd lower-level room the back of which is cell-like with some random display behind metal bars.
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| Looking at the pub website, but no explanation forthcoming as to why they have a cage at the end of one room at the Carpenters Arms. |
I also decided to refuel here with a hefty plate of their veggie Sunday dinner, which was a fine feed and would keep me going for the rest of the day.
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| The Carpenters Arms, Windsor. Turns out that's the back door. |
From here I made my way downhill and across the Thames into adjoining Eton.
As a last stop of the afternoon I wanted to call in to Windsor & Eton Brewery's own pub...
As a last stop of the afternoon I wanted to call in to Windsor & Eton Brewery's own pub...
George Inn (77 High Street, Eton, SL4 6AF - web)
Despite the crowds on the streets, none of the earlier pubs had been especially busy. I guess Windsor attracts a lot of tourists who are content to spend their visit taking selfies and hoping to bump into the Queen, rather than patronising the pubs.
The outdoor area of Brown's, down by the river, was an exception and also the George Inn seemed to be doing a roaring trade this afternoon.
It's a good traditional boozer with an L-shaped bar, a few distinct drinking areas and a popular garden to the side.
The outdoor area of Brown's, down by the river, was an exception and also the George Inn seemed to be doing a roaring trade this afternoon.
It's a good traditional boozer with an L-shaped bar, a few distinct drinking areas and a popular garden to the side.
This is where I found my 'Windsor Baby' beer, the picture of the pump clip being at the top of this post.
Full circle back to Prince Harry, so a good place to end this afternoons explorations of the town.
Full circle back to Prince Harry, so a good place to end this afternoons explorations of the town.
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| The George at Eton |
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